Allison Dickens

Allison H. Dickens was a Senior Editor at the Penguin and Random House Publishing Groups. She co-created the XYZ line of books for twenty-somethings while at Ballantine/Random House, and oversaw the Ballantine Reader's Circle program. In 2008 she left full-time publishing for a more family friendly schedule as a freelance editor. She has also worked in magazine publishing and for an independent publisher.

Getting Your Book Published —
All Your Questions Answered

with Allison Dickens

Landing a publishing deal for your book can be intimidating. In this participant-driven workshop we’ll demystify getting published. If you are unsure whether you’re ready to submit or what to do now that you’ve finished your manuscript, join us to discuss possible next steps. In a question-and-answer format dictated by participants, topics may include but […]

Returning… Everyday Inspirations: Prompts Guaranteed to Get Your Pen Moving

with Allison Dickens

Inspiration is all around us but can be easily overlooked. Each week we will use prompts drawn from everyday experiences to ignite our imaginations in this fun workshop designed to both inspire and polish your writing. Realistic dialogue, creating dynamic characters and balancing description with action are a few of the craft elements we’ll explore. […]

FILLED — Hanging In There With Your Novel or Memoir (Master-Level Course)

with Allison Dickens

“Hanging in There gave me the structure and motivation to finally finish my manuscript and prepare to submit to agents and publishers.” — Beth, Recent Student “Hanging in There provided me with the writing, revising, and editing help I needed to get my manuscript completed and out the door. Allison created an incredibly warm and inspiring classroom […]

FILLED – Write Compelling Characters

with Allison Dickens

“You can never know enough about your characters.” –W. Somerset Maugham “It begins with a character.” –William Faulkner “Plot grows out of character.” –Anne Lamott Writers agree: Compelling characters are essential to successful stories. Dive deeper into your characters in this workshop designed to help you create characters who leap off the page. We will […]

My Lessons In Self-Publishing:
Publishing Panel with Libby Waterford

with Allison Dickens

Interview by: Allison Dickens Join us for a conversation with Libby Waterford on her adventures in self-publishing. Last year as part of the Publishing Panel in February 2020, Libby shared the reasons why she decided to step away from traditional publishing and self-publish her latest novels. She will update us on what she’s learned now […]